Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of a novel reddish orange-emitting Sm3+-doped strontium borosilicate phosphor

Abstract

Sr3−2xSmxNaxB2SiO8 phosphors were synthesized by the solid-state reactions. X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflection, photoluminescence excitation and emission, as well as fluorescence decay measurements were utilized to investigate the structural and spectral properties of the samples. The results indicated that Sr3−2xSmxNaxB2SiO8 phosphors could be efficiently excited by the near-ultraviolet light to realize a novel reddish orange luminescence corresponding to the characteristic transitions 4G5/2→6HJ (J = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2, 11/2) of Sm3+ ions, with a maximum intensity at 600 nm. Based on the theoretical calculation, the dipole–dipole interaction was dominantly involved concentration quenching of Sm3+ in the phosphors, and the critical transfer distance (Rc) was determined to be 13.59 Å. Furthermore, Judd-Ofelt analysis was applied to evaluate three phenomenological Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Ωλ, λ = 2, 4, 6), and in turn radiative properties such as radiative transition probabilities (AR), radiative lifetimes (τR) and fluorescence branching ratios (βR) for the excited 4G5/2 luminescent level of Sm3+ ions were determined. Upon 402 nm excitation, the composition-optimized Sr2.90Sm0.05Na0.05B2SiO8 exhibited the preferable photoluminescence intensity and CIE coordinates of (0.534, 0.448). These results suggest that the Sm3+-doped Sr3B2SiO8 phosphors are competitive as the reddish orange-emitting phosphor-converted materials for application in near-ultraviolet-pumped LEDs.